Wipe assembly

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates to a wipe assembly including a plurality of wipes arranged in a stacked configuration, each one of the wipes having a first surface and an opposed second surface, each one of the wipes being capable of rotation from a first position to a second position, each of the wipes being arranged such that in the first position the second surface of the wipe is arranged in an outwardly facing configuration and in the second position the second surface of an underlying wipe is arranged in an outwardly facing configuration.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a wipe assembly, and more particularlyto a wipe assembly including a plurality of individual wipes arranged ina stacked configuration.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Disposable personal care wipes, such as for example baby wipes or wethand towelettes, are well known in the art and come in a variety offorms and configurations. Such personal wipes are often packaged in oneof two common package types. The first package type consists of a liquidimpermeable material, such as a metal foil, that contains an individualwipe therein. This type of package is commonly used for wet handtowelettes and the like. The second package type consists of a rigidcontainer, such as a plastic container, that contains a plurality ofindividual wipes and permits to user to individually remove a singlewipe for use. This type of package is commonly used for baby wipes andthe like.

The inventor of the present invention has discovered that a commonproblem with prior art wipes of the type described above is that oncethe wipe is used to clean a surface the user must first dispose of thesoiled wipe and then grasp a new clean wipe prior to further cleaning.That is, the user must interrupt the cleaning process to first disposeof the soiled wipe and then grasp a new clean wipe prior to continuingthe cleaning process. The above described problem is further complicatedby the fact that the user may have to open a new foil wrapper, in thecase of a wet hand towelette, or may have to retrieve a new clean wipefrom within a rigid container, in the case of a baby wipe, prior tofurther cleaning.

In view of the above, the inventor of the present invention hasdiscovered a wipe assembly that overcomes the shortcomings of the priorart wipes described above. In particular, the wipe assembly according tothe present invention permits the sequential use of a plurality of cleanwipes without significant interruption of the cleaning process.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In view of the foregoing, the present invention provides, according to afirst aspect of the invention, a wipe assembly including a plurality ofwipes arranged in a stacked configuration, each one of the wipes havinga first surface and an opposed second surface, each one of the wipesbeing capable of rotation from a first position to a second position,wherein in the first position the second surface of the wipe is arrangedin an outwardly facing configuration and in the second position thesecond surface of an underlying wipe is arranged in an outwardly facingconfiguration.

The present invention provides, according to a second aspect of theinvention, a wipe assembly including a top wipe having a first surfaceand an opposed second surface, a bottom wipe having a first surface andan opposed second surface, an intermediate wipe arranged between the topwipe and the bottom wipe, the intermediate wipe having a first surfaceand an opposed second surface, wherein the top wipe, the intermediatewipe, and the bottom wipe are coupled to one another and have a firstposition wherein the wipes are arranged in a stacked configuration,wherein the bottom wipe is capable of rotation from the first positionto a second position, wherein in the first position the second surfaceof the bottom wipe is arranged in an outwardly facing configuration andin the second position the second surface of the intermediate wipe isarranged in an outwardly facing configuration, wherein the intermediatewipe is capable of rotation from the first position to a secondposition, wherein in the first position the second surface of theintermediate wipe is arranged in an outwardly facing configuration andin the second position the second surface of the top wipe is arranged inan outwardly facing configuration.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a wipe assembly according to a firstembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a wipe assembly shown in FIG. 1 with auser's hand partially inserted within the wipe assembly;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view depicting a method for folding a substrateto form the wipe assembly shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of a wipe assembly according to asecond embodiment of the present invention;

FIGS. 5-8 depict a method of using the wipe assembly shown FIG. 1;

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a wipe assembly according to a thirdembodiment of the present invention with a user's hand partiallyinserted within the wipe assembly; and

FIG. 10 is an exploded perspective view of the wipe assembly shown inFIG. 9.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring to FIG. 1, a first embodiment of the wipe assembly 10according to the present invention generally includes a top wipe 12, anintermediate wipe 14, and a bottom wipe 16. Each of the intermediate andbottom wipes 14, 16 are arranged below the top wipe 12. Each of thewipes 12, 14 and 16 are coupled to one another and are arranged in a“stacked configuration” as shown in FIG. 1. The term “stackedconfiguration” as used herein means that each of the wipes has a firstposition wherein the wipes are arranged in a substantially overlappingrelationship.

Referring to FIG. 3, the specific embodiment of the wipe assembly 10shown in FIGS. 1-3 is preferably constructed from a single sheet 13 ofmaterial that is folded in the manner shown in FIG. 3 to thereby formthe individual wipes 12, 14 and 16. As shown in FIG. 3, each individualwipe 12, 14 and 16 is formed by folding the sheet 13 so that each wipeis defined by two overlapping layers of material. Specifically, the wipe12 is defined by material layers 18 and 20, wipe 14 is defined bymaterial layers 22 and 24, and wipe 16 is defined by material layers 26and 28. The material layers 18, 20, 22, 24, 26 and 28 are then coupledto one another in the folded configuration shown in FIG. 3 to therebyform the final wipe assembly 10 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.

The layers 18 and 20 of the first wipe 12 are left in a detached state,i.e. they are not sealed to one another, along a proximal edge 29thereof. In this manner, a chamber 31 is defined between the layers 18and 20 of the first wipe 12. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the chamber 31is structured and arranged to receive at least a portion of a user'shand during use. More specifically, the chamber 31 is structured andarranged to receive at least a portion of the user's fingers. In thismanner, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a user can maintain the wipe assembly10 on the palm side of the user's hand during use.

As shown in FIG. 3, the top wipe 12 includes a first surface 32 and asecond opposed surface 34. Likewise, the intermediate wipe 14 includesopposed surfaces 36 and 38 and the bottom wipe 16 includes opposedsurfaces 40 and 42. Although the specific embodiment of the wipeassembly 10 shown in FIGS. 1-3 includes three individual wipes, the wipeassembly 10 according to the present invention may include two or moreindividual wipes.

Although the wipe assembly 10 shown in FIGS. 1-3 is constructed from asingle folded sheet of material it is possible that the wipe assembly 10could be constructed from distinct layers of material that are coupledto one another to form the final wipe assembly 10 shown in FIGS. 1 and2.

With reference to FIGS. 5-8, a method of using the wipe assembly 10according to the present invention will be described. First a user'shand is partially inserted within the chamber 31 such that the user'sfingers are at least partially received within the chamber 31. Inparticular, the wipe assembly 10 is arranged such that the user'sfinger's are at least partially received within the chamber so that theremainder of the wipe assembly is maintained on the palm side of theuser's hand. Once the user has inserted his or her finger's within thechamber 31 as shown in FIG. 5, the user may then utilize the bottom wipe16 of the wipe assembly 10 to clean a surface, absorb a fluid, or usethe wipe for some other cleaning purpose, as shown in FIG. 6. When thebottom wipe 16 is in its original stacked configuration it is noted thatits second surface 42, i.e. its bottom surface is arranged in anoutwardly facing configuration and thus the surface 42 can be utilizedfor cleaning purposes.

Referring to FIG. 7, after the user has utilized the bottom wipe 16, anddesires a new clean wipe, the user may then rotate the bottom wipe 16from its original stacked configuration shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 to theposition shown in FIG. 7. When the bottom wipe 16 is arranged in theposition shown in FIG. 7 the user may retain the soiled bottom wipe 16under the user's thumb to thereby expose the underlying wipe 14.Specifically, by retaining the bottom wipe 16 with the user's thumb asshown in FIG. 7, the second surface 38 of the intermediate wipe 14, i.e.its bottom surface, is arranged in an outwardly facing configuration andthus the surface 38 can be utilized for cleaning purposes. As shown inFIG. 8, during use the user can retain the soiled wipe 16 with his orher thumb and utilize the intermediate wipe 14 to further clean thesoiled surface or the like. In this manner, the user does not have tosubstantially interrupt the cleaning process to access a new clean wipe.Rather, the user simple rotates the bottom wipe 16 from its originalstacked configuration to its second position, retains the wipe 16 withhis or her thumb, thereby exposing the intermediate wipe 14 andcontinues the cleaning process. After the intermediate wipe 14 is soiledthe user may then likewise rotate the wipe 14 to thereby expose the topwipe 12 and continue the cleaning process.

FIG. 4 depicts an exploded view of second embodiment of a wipe assembly110 according to the present invention. The wipe assembly 110 generallyincludes a top wipe 112, a intermediate wipe 114, and a bottom wipe 116.Each of the intermediate and bottom wipes 114, 116 are arranged belowthe top wipe 112. Each of the wipes 112, 114 and 116 are coupled to oneanother and are arranged in a “stacked configuration” as shown in FIG.4.

The specific embodiment of the wipe assembly 110 shown in FIG. 4 isconstructed from three distinct sheets 118, 120 and 122 of material thatare coupled to one another to thereby form the wipe assembly 110. Thesheet 112 is folded to form to opposed material layers 124 and 126. Thesheets of material 118, 120 and 122 may be coupled to one another in anyknown manner, for example by means of adhesive, sewn to one another,thermobonding or ultrasonic bonding (in which for either case, one ormore of the layers is allowed to melt and resolidify so that it bondswith the other layer), selective hydroentanglement, or the like.

The layers 124 and 126 of the top wipe 112 are left in a detached state,i.e. they are not sealed to one another, along the respective proximaledges 129 a and 129 b thereof. In this manner, a chamber 131 is definedbetween the layers 124 and 126 of the top wipe 112. The chamber 131 isstructured and arranged to receive at least a portion of a user's handduring use. More specifically, the chamber 131 is structured andarranged to receive at least a portion of the user's fingers. In thismanner, a user can maintain the wipe assembly 110 on the palm side ofthe user's hand during use.

As shown in FIG. 4, the top wipe 112 includes a first surface 132 and asecond opposed surface 134. Likewise, the intermediate wipe 114 includesopposed surfaces 136 and 138 and the bottom wipe 116 includes opposedsurfaces 140 and 142.

The intermediate wipe 114 generally includes a main body portion 150 anda tab portion 152 that extends outwardly from the main body portion 150of the intermediate wipe 114. Specifically, the tab portion 152 isstructured and arranged such that it distally extends away from the mainbody portion 150, and the user, during use. Likewise, the bottom wipe116 generally includes a main body portion 160 and a tab portion 162that extends outwardly from the main body portion 160. Specifically, thetab portion 162 is structured and arranged such that it distally extendsaway from the main body portion 160, and the user, during use. As shownin FIG. 4, the tab 152 of the intermediate wipe 114 is preferably offsetrelative to the tab 162 of the bottom wipe 116, that is the tab 152 isnot vertically aligned with the tab 162.

The embodiment of the wipe assembly 110 shown in FIG. 4 functions in usein the same manner as the first embodiment of the invention describedabove with referenced to FIGS. 1-3. That is, after the user has utilizedthe bottom wipe 116 to clean a surface or the like, and the user desiresa new clean wipe, the user may rotate the bottom wipe 116 from itsoriginal stacked configuration towards the user and retain the soiledwipe with the user's thumb, thereby revealing the clean underlyingintermediate wipe 114. The user may then use the intermediate wipe 114to further clean the surface or the like. Thereafter, the user may thenrotate the intermediate wipe 114 from its original stacked configurationtowards the user and retain the soiled wipe with the user's thumb,thereby revealing the clean underlying top wipe 112. The tabs 152 and162 are structured and arranged to enable the user to more easily graspand rotate the bottom wipe 116 and the intermediate wipe 114 as suchwipes are soiled during use.

Although the specific embodiment of the wipe assembly 110 shown in FIG.4 includes three individual wipes, the wipe assembly 110 according tothe present invention may include two or more individual wipes.

FIG. 10 depicts an exploded view of third embodiment of a wipe assembly210 according to the present invention. The wipe assembly 210 generallyincludes a top wipe 212, a intermediate wipe 214, and a bottom wipe 216.Each of the intermediate and bottom wipes 214, 216 are arranged belowthe top wipe 212. Each of the wipes 212, 214 and 216 are coupled to oneanother and are arranged in a “stacked configuration” as shown in FIG.10.

The specific embodiment of the wipe assembly 210 shown in FIGS. 9 and 10is constructed from three distinct sheets 218, 220, and 222 of materialthat are coupled to one another to thereby form the wipe assembly 210.The sheets of material 218, 220 and 222 may be coupled to one another inany known manner, for example by means of adhesive, sewn to one another,thermobonding or ultrasonic bonding (in which for either case, one ormore of the layers is allowed to melt and resolidify so that it bondswith the other layer), selective hydroentanglement, or the like.

As shown in FIG. 10, the top wipe 212 includes a first surface 232 and asecond opposed surface 234. Likewise, the intermediate wipe 214 includesopposed surfaces 236 and 238 and the bottom wipe 216 includes opposedsurfaces 240 and 242.

As shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, the wipe assembly 210 further includes astrip 250 of material coupled to the top wipe 212 such that the strip250 is arranged in opposed relationship to the first surface 232 of thetop wipe 212. The strip 250 is structured and arranged so that a usermay insert the user's hand between the strip 250 and the first surface232 of the top wipe 212. In this manner, as shown in FIG. 9, a user canmaintain the wipe assembly 210 on the palm side of the user's handduring use.

As shown in FIGS. 9 and 10 the top wipe 212 is preferably dimensionedsuch that it extends from the base of a user's palm to the end of, orbeyond, a user's fingertips. Stated another way, the top wipe 212 ispreferably dimensioned such that the leading edge portion 262 of itsperipheral edge 260 extends to or beyond a user's fingertips during use.

The embodiment of the wipe assembly 210 shown in FIGS. 9 and 10functions in use in the same manner as the first embodiment of theinvention described above with referenced to FIGS. 1-3. That is, afterthe user has utilized the bottom wipe 216 to clean a surface or thelike, and the user desires a new clean wipe, the user may rotate thebottom wipe 216 from its original stacked configuration towards the userand retain the soiled wipe with the user's thumb, thereby revealing theclean underlying intermediate wipe 214. The user may then use theintermediate wipe 214 to further clean the surface or the like.Thereafter, the user may then rotate the intermediate wipe 214 from itsoriginal stacked configuration towards the user and retain the soiledwipe with the user's thumb, thereby revealing the clean underlying topwipe 212.

The intermediate wipe 214 is preferably dimensioned such that theleading edge portion 266 of its peripheral edge 264 is recessed relativeto the leading edge portion 272 of the bottom wipe's 216 peripheral edge270. In a similar fashion, the top wipe 212 is preferably dimensionedsuch that the leading edge portion 262 of its peripheral edge 260 isrecessed relative to the leading edge portion 266 of the intermediatewipe 214. This structure enables the user to more easily grasp thebottom wipe 216, and the intermediate wipe 214, as each wipe is soiledand rotate the respective wipe to reveal the underlying clean wipe.

The material sheets used to form the wipe assembly according to thepresent invention described herein may comprise a variety of bothnatural and synthetic fibers or materials. Nonlimiting examples ofnatural materials include, but are not limited to, silk fibers, keratinfibers, cellulosic fibers, and combinations thereof. Nonlimitingexamples of synthetic materials include acetate fibers, acrylic fibers,cellulose ester fibers, modacrylic fibers, polamide fibers, polyesterfibers, rayon fibers, and combinations thereof. Preferably, the materialsheets used to form the wipe assembly according to the present inventioncomprise a nonwoven material formed from one or more of the aboveidentified fiberous materials.

While particular embodiments of the preset invention have beenillustrated and described, it would be obvious to those skilled in theart that various other changes and modifications can be made withoutdeparting from the spirit and scope of the invention. It is thereforeintended to cover in the appended claims all such changes andmodifications that are within the scope of the invention.

1. A wipe assembly comprising: a plurality of wipes arranged in astacked configuration, each one of the wipes having a first surface andan opposed second surface; each one of the wipes being capable ofrotation from a first position to a second position, wherein in thefirst position the second surface of the wipe is arranged in anoutwardly facing configuration and in the second position the secondsurface of an underlying wipe is arranged in an outwardly facingconfiguration.
 2. The wipe assembly according to claim 1, furthercomprising a mechanism for maintaining the wipe assembly on a palm sideof a user's hand during use of the wipe assembly.
 3. The wipe assemblyaccording to claim 2, wherein a top wipe of the plurality of wipescomprises a first layer and a second layer of material.
 4. The wipeassembly according to claim 3, wherein the first and second layers arecoupled to one another to define a chamber between the layers, thechamber structured and arranged to receive at least part of a user'shand to thereby maintain the wipe assembly on a palm side of the user'shand during use of the wipe assembly.
 5. The wipe assembly according toclaim 4, wherein the wipe assembly is formed from a single folded sheetof material.
 6. The wipe assembly according to claim 2, wherein a sheetof material forms a top wipe of the plurality of wipes, the sheet beingfolded to define first and second opposed layers of material, the firstand second layers being coupled to one another to define a chamberbetween the layers, the chamber structured and arranged to receive atleast part of a user's hand to thereby maintain the wipe assembly on apalm side of the user's hand during use of the wipe assembly.
 7. Thewipe assembly according to claim 2, wherein the mechanism comprises asheet of flexible material coupled to the plurality of wipes, the sheetof material being structured and arranged to permit a user to insert atleast part of the user's hand between the sheet of material and a topwipe of the plurality of wipes to thereby maintain the wipe assembly ona palm side of the user's hand during use of the wipe assembly.
 8. Thewipe assembly according to claim 2, wherein each wipe is structured andarranged such that the wipe may be maintained in the second position bya user's thumb when the wipe assembly is maintained on the palm side ofthe user's hand.
 9. The wipe assembly according to claim 2, wherein theplurality of wipes includes at least a first wipe and a second wipe,each of the first wipe and the second wipe including a main body portionand a tab portion extending outwardly from the main body portion. 10.The wipe assembly according claim 9, wherein each tab portion isstructured and arranged such that it extends distally away from a userduring use of the wipe assembly.
 11. The wipe assembly according toclaim 10, wherein the tab portion of the first wipe is offset relativeto the tab portion of the second wipe.
 12. A wipe assembly comprising: atop wipe having a first surface and an opposed second surface; a bottomwipe having a first surface and an opposed second surface, anintermediate wipe arranged between the top wipe and the bottom wipe, theintermediate wipe having a first surface and an opposed second surface;wherein the top wipe, the intermediate wipe, and the bottom wipe arecoupled to one another and have a first position wherein the wipes arearranged in a stacked configuration; wherein the bottom wipe is capableof rotation from the first position to a second position, wherein in thefirst position the second surface of the bottom wipe is arranged in anoutwardly facing configuration and in the second position the secondsurface of the intermediate wipe is arranged in an outwardly facingconfiguration; and wherein the intermediate wipe is capable of rotationfrom the first position to a second position, wherein in the firstposition the second surface of the intermediate wipe is arranged in anoutwardly facing configuration and in the second position the secondsurface of the top wipe is arranged in an outwardly facingconfiguration.
 13. The wipe assembly according to claim 12, furthercomprising a mechanism for maintaining the plurality of wipes on a palmside of a user's hand.
 14. The wipe assembly according to claim 13,wherein the top wipe comprises a first layer and a second layer ofmaterial.
 15. The wipe assembly according to claim 14, wherein the firstand second layers are coupled to one another to define a chamber betweenthe layers, the chamber structured and arranged to at least partiallyreceive a user's hand to thereby maintain the wipe assembly on a palmside of the user's hand during use of the wipe assembly.
 16. The wipeassembly according to claim 15, wherein the wipe assembly is formed froma single folded sheet of material.
 17. The wipe assembly according toclaim 14, wherein the tope wipe is formed by a folded sheet definingfirst and second opposed layers of material, the first and second layersbeing coupled to one another to define a chamber between the layers, thechamber structured and arranged to at least partially receive a user'shand to thereby maintain the wipe assembly on a palm side of the user'shand during use of the wipe assembly.
 18. The wipe assembly according toclaim 14, wherein the mechanism comprises a sheet of flexible materialcoupled to the top wipe, the sheet of material being structured andarranged to permit a user to at least partially insert the user's handbetween the sheet of material and the top wipe to thereby maintain thewipe assembly on a palm the of the user's hand during use of the wipeassembly.
 19. The wipe assembly according to claim 12, wherein each ofintermediate wipe and bottom wipe is structured and arranged such thatthe wipe may be maintained in the second position by a user's thumb whenthe wipe assembly is maintained on the palm side of the user's hand. 20.The wipe assembly according to claim 12, wherein each of the bottom wipeand the intermediate wipe includes a main body portion and a tab portionextending outwardly from the main body portion.
 21. The wipe assemblyaccording claim 20, wherein each tab portion is structured and arrangedsuch that it extends distally away from a user during use of the wipeassembly.
 22. The wipe assembly according to claim 21, wherein the tabportion of the first wipe is offset relative to the tab portion of thesecond wipe.
 23. The wipe assembly according to claim 13, wherein thetop wipe, intermediate wipe, and bottom wipe include a peripheral edge,and wherein the peripheral edge of the top wipe, intermediate wipe, andbottom wipe each includes a leading edge portion, the leading edgeportion of the top wipe being recessed relative to the leading edgeportion of the intermediate wipe, and the leading edge portion of theintermediate wipe being recessed relative to the leading edge portion ofthe bottom wipe.